17 High School Internships in Philadelphia in 2025
What’s Covered:
Internships have become an increasingly popular extracurricular activity for high school students. They allow high schoolers to gain hands-on experience, explore career paths, and build real-world skills. Internships also look great on college applications.
Home to world-class research institutions, leading medical centers, and numerous cultural sites, Philadelphia offers a plethora of internship opportunities to high schoolers who want to increase their expertise in a particular field.
17 High School Internships in Philadelphia
1. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Application Deadline: December 31
Duration: 8 weeks (June 23 – August 15)
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program aims to increase student interest in biomedical science and medicine careers, particularly within groups typically underrepresented in science, including females, ethnic or racial minorities, and the economically disadvantaged.
Through this full-time paid opportunity, participants will work 35 hours a week doing structured research activities under the guidance of Monell scientists. The program culminates in a conference where students will present their research to the scientific community, family, and friends. The program also includes an enrichment component through which participants attend lectures on topics ranging from science to communication to college readiness. The program is open to high school students and undergraduates interested in science and research from the greater Philadelphia area (including Camden, NJ).
2. Philadelphia International Airport Summer Internship
Application Deadline: February 14
Duration: Two summers (six weeks in the first summer, eight weeks in the second)
For this internship, interns will be assigned to the following departments at the Philadelphia International Airport such as Human Resources, Communications, Purchasing Administration, Capital Development, and more. Students should expect to gain real-world experience, develop their professional connections, learn more about the aviation industry, and contribute to the city’s government. The PHL summer internships for high schoolers are typically 20 hours per week on average.
3. Fox Chase Cancer Center Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP)
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: 5 days (Session 1: July 7 – 11; Session 2: July 21 – 25)
This free summer program held at Temple University provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on research and lab experience. Participants are tasked with developing hypotheses, designing and troubleshooting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting and presenting their findings. The program culminates in a symposium where students show their research to faculty, family, and alumni. Summer TRIP is divided into three phases: Project Design, Experimentation, and Communication. The TRIP program is open to high schoolers from Philadelphia and surrounding communities.
4. Thomas Jefferson University Nursing Summer Training and Enrichment Program (STEP-UP)
Application Deadline: May 17
Duration: Four weeks (June 30 – July 25)
This free program allows high school juniors and seniors to explore the nursing profession and its numerous areas of specialization. The program’s hybrid model combines in-person experiences at the Jefferson College of Nursing and field trips with online enrichment activities like SAT prep and personal development workshops.
5. The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research
Application Deadline: April 7
Duration: Four weeks (July 7 – 31)
The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research gives students interested in science the chance to learn the best practices for biomedical research, explore career paths in the field, and contribute to science projects. Over the course of the four-week program, students will work Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Participants are awarded a $1,500 stipend at the program’s conclusion. The program is open to students 16 years of age and older who’ve completed at least one high school science course. Preference is given to students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia.
6. UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Application Deadline: February 21
Duration: Four weeks (July 7 – August 1)
This four-week program aimed at 9th and 10th grade students helps them prepare for both college and their future careers. Participants have the chance to complete an internship in one of Penn’s professional schools—Dental, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Nursing. Students also engage in enrichment activities focused on topics like standardized test preparation, personal growth, professional development, financial literacy, and wellness. The program is open to students from Philadelphia and its surrounding area high schools. SMP is a free program.
7. Penn Summer Science Initiative (PSSI)
Application Deadline: March 1
Duration: Four weeks (July 7 – 31)
UPenn’s Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter sponsors this four-week program for students interested in material science and engineering, which is both free and prestigious—only 14 students are chosen to participate each summer. Program participants will listen to lectures, enjoy hands-on computer and experimental labs, and take field trips to industrial and Penn facilities. Students will also get to witness a wide variety of materials characterization techniques such as scanning electron and optical microscopies, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and x-ray diffraction.
PSSI is open to high schoolers entering their junior or senior year from the greater Philadelphia region who have taken a chemistry and/or physics course. Students from groups underrepresented in science are especially encouraged to apply.
8. The Neurology High School Scholars Program | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Application Deadline: March 7
Duration: Five weeks (July 14 – August 15)
This program offers the opportunity for high school students to complete a five-week paid internship ($1,000 stipend) working closely with a neurologist or neuroscientist on a basic science or clinical research project, shadowing physicians, and attending a weekly educational session. Work hours will be determined between the student and mentor based on project needs. Students will prepare a poster presentation outlining their project results and present the poster at a conference at the end of the 5-week session.
Anyone applying must be a current high school sophomore, junior, or senior and must be 16 years of age by the start of the program. Applicants are not required to live in Philadelphia, however, they must have the means to travel to and from CHOP up to 5 days per week.
9. Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute (FMI)
Application Deadline: April 4
Duration: Seven weeks (June 21 – August 9)
FMI is a seven-week program that introduces high school students to the forensic techniques and instruments used to solve crimes. Students will gain hands-on experience with analyzing evidence from crime scenes and conducting their own investigations under the mentorship of forensic experts. Participants in the FMI Summer Science Program will learn through hands-on experiences in three different forensic science disciplines: forensic biology, forensic chemistry, and forensic toxicology. The program concludes with presentation day, where students sit as expert witnesses in a trial setting—friends and family are invited to watch.
The program is open to high school students 16 years of age and older who have completed algebra and either biology or chemistry.
10. Bloomberg Arts Internship Summer (BAI)
Application Deadline: February 28
Duration: Eight weeks (June 20 – August 15)
Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance are working together to provide this paid, art-focused internship. The program places rising high school seniors in positions at arts and culture organizations across the Greater Philadelphia region, such as the Penn Museum. Interns are paid $17.53 per hour, can work up to 35 hours per week, and are provided benefits like transportation and meals.
11. Bloomberg Arts Internship School Year (BAISY)
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
This paid internship program for rising high school seniors runs the length of the school year. Interns work up to ten hours a week at arts and culture organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region. Interns also participate in professional development opportunities focused on college and/or career readiness, self-advocacy, self-actualization, and public speaking. Note that you cannot apply directly to this program. You must first complete the Bloomberg Arts Internship during the summer, and then be selected to participate in the school-year program.
12. Elmwood Park Zoo Education Volunteer Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: A minimum of 80 hours annually
High schoolers ages 14+ can volunteer at the Elmwood Park Zoo, where they engage with visitors and share knowledge about the animals who call the zoo home. Volunteers are asked to commit to working eight hours a month (except during January and February), and a total of 80 hours over the course of the year. While this position is unpaid, there are some perks to volunteering, including access to volunteer workshops, free guest passes, and discounts throughout the zoo. It’s also a great opportunity to gain experience and explore animal-related career paths.
13. URBN Inc. Internship
Application Deadline: November 4
Duration: Ten weeks (June 2 – August 8)
URBN Inc., the company that owns well-known brands like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, offers a ten-week paid internship based primarily in their home office in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Interns work in an area of the business that interests them, take part in special events and off-site field trips, and gain a close-up look at the fast-paced environment of retail.
14. Walnut Street Theatre
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Varies depending on position
The historic Walnut Theatre—the oldest operating theater in the U.S., founded in 1808—has a number of apprenticeships available to students in fields ranging from acting to production management to technical direction. Participants gain real-world experience, work alongside professionals, and receive an intensive education in theater operation. Apprentices receive a full scholarship to be in the program and a weekly stipend of $500 to assist with personal expenses associated with participation.
15. Mayor’s Internship Program
Application Deadline: February 18
Duration: Ten weeks (June 10 – August 16)
This ten-week summer internship primarily accepts undergraduates and community college students, but will occasionally consider recent high school graduates. Interns are assigned to one of more than 40 city agencies where they assist with research, administrative duties, complete a group or community project, and support work. Interns are paid $18 per hour and are expected to work between 25 and 37.5 hours a week, depending on their assignment.
16. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Application Deadline: November 1st
Duration: Eight weeks
This program provides rising 10th through 12th graders, who are at least 16 years old, the chance to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory, like the Philadelphia Naval Surface Warfare Center and Pacific Naval Information Warfare Center in Philadelphia. Participants learn about Naval research and technology while receiving mentoring from top scientists and engineers. The program is only open to U.S. citizens, and all interns receive a stipend—$4,000 for new interns, and $4,500 for returning interns.
17. Bank of America Student Leaders
Application Deadline: Applications open in October and typically close in January
Duration: Eight weeks (Exact dates vary by location)
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is available to high schoolers in over 100 communities nationwide, including Philadelphia. Through this program, students are paired with paid internship opportunities at nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity, where they gain valuable skills and drive change within their communities. The internship runs for eight weeks, the last of which is spent at the Student Leader Summit in Washington, D.C., where participants will learn how the government, business, and nonprofit sectors work together to address community needs. The program covers the cost of attending this Summit.
How Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Extracurricular activities like internships can play a significant role in college admissions, especially at selective schools where seemingly every applicant has an outstanding academic record. That said, not all internships are created equal, and some will have more of an impact on college odds than others.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities provide a good guideline for understanding the influence internships will have on college admissions. The most prestigious, impressive, and rare internships, like PSSI or The CHOP Neurology High School Scholars Program, are placed in Tiers 1 and 2 and have a substantial effect on college odds. Conversely, more common and less attention-grabbing internships, like volunteering at the Elmwood Park Zoo, are placed in Tiers 3 and 4 and carry less sway with admissions officials.
CollegeVine can help add further clarity to your odds of getting into college. Our free chancing calculator uses factors like academics, demographics, and extracurriculars (like internships) to estimate your odds at over 1,500 colleges and universities nationwide.
Disclaimer: This post includes content sponsored by Lumiere Education.
